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Article

  • The EMBO Journal (2005) 24, 3259 - 3265
  • doi:10.1038/sj.emboj.7600796

Published online: 25 August 2005

G-protein gamma subunit 1 is required for sugar reception in Drosophila

Hiroshi Ishimoto1, Kuniaki Takahashi2, Ryu Ueda2 and Teiichi Tanimura1

  1. Department of Biology, Graduate School of Sciences, Kyushu University, Ropponmatsu, Fukuoka, Japan
  2. Genetic Strains Research Center, National Institute of Genetics, Mishima, Shizuoka, Japan

Correspondence to:

Teiichi Tanimura, Department of Biology, Graduate School of Sciences, Kyushu University, Ropponmatsu, Fukuoka 810-8560, Japan. Tel.: +81 92 726 4759; Fax: +81 92 726 4625; E-mail: tanimura@rc.kyushu-u.ac.jp

Received 18 April 2005; Accepted 3 August 2005

Though G-proteins have been implicated in the primary step of taste signal transduction, no direct demonstration has been done in insects. We show here that a G-protein gamma subunit, Ggamma1, is required for the signal transduction of sugar taste reception in Drosophila. The Ggamma1 gene is expressed mainly in one of the gustatory receptor neurons. Behavioral responses of the flies to sucrose were reduced by the targeted suppression of neural functions of Ggamma1-expressing cells using neural modulator genes such as the modified Shaker K+ channel (EKO), the tetanus toxin light chain or the shibire (shits1) gene. RNA interference targeting to the Ggamma1 gene reduced the amount of Ggamma1 mRNA and suppressed electrophysiological response of the sugar receptor neuron. We also demonstrated that responses to sugars were lowered in Ggamma1 null mutant, Ggamma1N159. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that Ggamma1 participates in the signal transduction of sugar taste reception.

  • Keywords:

    • Drosophila,
    • G-protein,
    • signal transduction,
    • taste